Chapter Ten.
Magic
Holy crap. Had the kid been spying on us all along? Jody sprang from the chair before I could blink. Quickly, I gave the waitress some bills and hurried out after her. Lars was getting a real reaming from Jody when I got outside.
“…a grown woman! Thirty-eight years old to your pathetic sixteen. You think you know the ways of the world!” Jody yelled at Lars, who towered above her. “You left Oskar in charge to come and stalk me, for what? What! If I chose to have dinner with someone, how the hell does that affect you?”
“Magic held your hand! You said this wasn’t a date! I’m protecting you!” Lars spat back.
Jody reached up and cuffed the side of Lar’s head. “Magic was holding my hand because we were talking about your father, and I got upset.”
Lars opened his mouth and shut it again.
“Exactly. Believe me, you’ve crossed the line, my boy. You’re the child, not me! I protect you. And you have completely overstepped this time. Your bike privileges have been revoked for two months!
Ouch, I felt that deeply. For someone who loved riding, that would hurt, and by the expression on Lars’s face, that stabbed deep.
“You’re min mor, I have to look after you!” Lars tried arguing.
“No. You don’t, son. This isn’t what your dad meant when he said that.
And you know it. You’re using it as an excuse for this over-ridiculous behaviour.
Lars, you’re scared I’ll date someone and forget Vulcan.
That won’t ever happen. Vulcan is etched deep into my heart.
It’s possible I could love another man; there’s always a chance. But he’d never replace Vulcan.
“Now go home and savour the ride because it’s the last one for two months! And you and Oskar both have babysitting duties for six months. Laila will be happy she escaped that! Argue, son, and I might also ban you from the school dances and proms coming up!”
Lars snapped his mouth shut, sent me a dirty look, and then stomped back to his bike. Moments later, his Harley roared out.
“Wow,” I said, for lack of a better word.
“Lars needs a kick up the ass. I’m unsure what’s got into him lately,” Jody muttered.
“Lars is a typical boy; we all go through it and test our boundaries,” I replied.
“Well, he’s going to learn there are rules. I can’t believe Lars left the kids to come and spy. I know what happened. He snuck out and didn’t tell Laila, and I bet Oskar went to get her once Lars was free and clear. Honestly.” Jody sighed.
She ran a hand over her face, and I noted how exhausted she appeared.
“Who do you lean on?”
“No one. There’s no way I’d ever contact my parents or siblings. It’s just me and the kids, Magic.”
“You’re carrying the burden alone?” I asked, not surprised at all. That sounded exactly like Jody.
“Who else? Hell, I searched for a parent support group, and they’re all for moms and toddlers. That gave me an idea, though,” Jody said.
“Want to get more milkshakes and dessert, and you can discuss it?”
“I’d enjoy that,” Jody replied and headed back inside. Her eagerness for adult conversation made me wonder when she’d last spent time with her age group, probably before she left Denmark.
Jody
Crook House was ablaze with lights when I got home, and although quiet, it felt as if someone were waiting. I stomped in and glanced around. Viggo waved from the landing with Jerrik next to him. Both looked intact and amused.
“Jesper?”
“Asleep. Moster Jody, I kept him running around the fenced-in yard,” Viggo replied.
“Henrik?”
“He’s with Laila watching a film in bed,” Jerrik answered.
“And the two delinquents?”
“Have their heads together trying to figure a way out of this mess.” Viggo chuckled.
That wasn’t happening. They were both up the creek without a paddle. “Thanks, boys, off to bed you go.”
Viggo and Jerrik both seemed disappointed, and I grinned. The kids loved getting one over on each other. They blew out deep breaths and went up the stairs to their rooms.
I headed into the lounge and found Lars and Oskar. Oskar looked sour, and Lars braced himself.
“The punishment stands. Two months’ no bike privileges and six months’ babysitting.
If you argue, I’ll tack another month onto each.
Tonight, you both disappointed me. I was treated as if I were an airhead with no common sense and certainly not worthy of making up my own mind.
Your actions made me feel insignificant, uneasy, and I questioned myself. That is unacceptable.”
“We were worried, Moster Jody,” Oskar said, looking a little shamefaced.
“Of what? Magic is no threat. In fact, your behaviour tonight could have caused real danger. What if something happened? When did Laila become aware Lars had snuck out?”
“Five minutes before I returned,” Lars admitted.
“And while Laila was in her room doing whatever, Oskar was watching his brothers alone. I bet in this house Oskar didn’t have them all in sight all the time.
That was dangerous, and you’ve upset me.
Go to your rooms, think about your actions and how you’d have felt if a terrible accident had happened. ”
Lars and Oskar fled. They weren’t men, not yet.
The boys might tower over me, but they were still children.
Old enough to babysit but not to vote. Half man-half boy.
They were at the in-between stage. While I’d let them find their footing and their own way in life, they had to understand I was the parent.
Three days later.
I shook the realtor’s hand and headed to my car.
I’d checked out the medical practice that was up for sale and had been impressed.
But I wouldn’t take anyone’s word that it was sound.
I needed a builder to conduct a survey. And not knowing anyone here, I could only ask one person for a recommendation.
I drove to Magic’s Bar and noted the bikes outside. There always appeared to be people present, which was fantastic for business. I walked in and spotted Magic immediately. He caught sight of me and hurried around the counter.
“The kids okay?” he demanded.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t they be?” I questioned, puzzled.
“You’re in my bar, of your own accord,” Magic replied.
“Aren’t I allowed?”
“No!” Magic shouted. I frowned, and he ran a hand over his beard. “Let’s start again. Hey, what’s up?”
“Are you crazy?” I asked and laughed.
“Yes!” half the peanut gallery exclaimed.
I gaped and looked around at the amused faces. “Well, that answers that!” I quipped as Magic scowled at those drinking.
“Shut the fuck up,” he ordered.
“Who the hell places IED’s in a parking lot in case he’s attacked?” a guy called.
I blinked. Had Magic done that?
“The bar was bombed, and those IEDs saved your lives last time,” Magic shot back.
Beg your pardon?
“And who carries grenades around?” another biker shouted.
Worried, I took two steps back. Was Magic carrying one now?
“Who takes a missile launcher to a ghost hunt and tries to shoot the fucker?” someone else called.
Holy crap. Magic should be locked up.
“The cops didn’t press charges, and I was shooting at a demon threatening my girl!” Magic snapped.
Oh, that just made everything okay!
“Did my leaving break you?” I whispered.
Magic’s head twisted towards me. “What?”
“I think I fucked you up. I mean, seriously, who does such actions?”
“They are perfectly logical!” Magic retorted.
My eyes widened. “Nuh huh.”
“Whose kid runs around with a flamethrower?” he demanded.
“Jesper’s a kid. Those things are expected!” I stated.
Somebody snorted. “Not really, love.”
“Hush your mouth. Ten-year-old children find trouble.”
“And dyes someone’s hair green?” Magic shot back.
“Jesper’s creative.”
“Darlin’, those terrors shot water bombs, filed down Nerf bullets, and shouted abuse. Don’t cast stones when you live in a glass house,” Magic gloated.
“They are kids! And were raised in an MC,” I defended. “Their actions are perfectly normal.”
“For psychopaths.” Magic smirked.
“Says the adult one. All children are psychopaths until they mature. That’s why they can’t be diagnosed before eighteen. Their personality doesn’t fully form and settle until adulthood. My kids have excuses, what’s yours?”
“Never grew up!” Magic shot back.
I raked him up and down and snorted. “All six foot seven of you disagree.”
“Mentally,” Magic retorted.
“Oh, I agree there!” I exclaimed.
“A ten-year-old had a flamethrower? Who gave him that?” someone asked.
“Jesper discovered it and made it work. I’m a responsible parent! I ensure he uses it away from people.”
“Jesper aimed it at me!” Magic bellowed.
“Because you were threatening me!” I yelled, amused.
“How the heck was I threatening you? I came to return the key you needed!” Magic spat out.
“They thought you wanted to date me. By the way, can I have that key?”
“Sure,” Magic pulled it out of his jeans pocket and held it out. “Want a drink?”
“Yeah, and I need some advice. I don’t know anyone locally and need some help.”
“Not a problem, soda or hard drink?”
“I’m driving, make it pop,” I replied. Magic nodded and disappeared around the counter to fetch a Coke. I grabbed a stool and sat.
“That it? They yelled at each other and are now having a drink together. What the fuck? She’s as crazy as Magic,” a guy said.
I turned and speared him with a warning glance. “I remember you, Madcap. Interesting how you got your name, isn’t it?”
Madcap, from the Riders of Vengeance, suddenly decided he needed to finish his beer.
“Yeah, I thought so,” I mumbled and smirked at Venom, who offered a head tilt, although there was amusement in his eyes.
“You owe me that story,” Alice muttered as she leaned over the bar.
“What’s it worth?” I replied, and Alice laughed.
“Nice to see you again,” Alice said as she wiped the counter down.
“Is it? Didn’t think you liked me last time.”
Alice smiled. “I didn’t. Nothing personal, but anyone who has issues with Magic automatically is on my shit list.”
“Magic means something to you?” There was a backstory, and I needed it.